Axle-lubricator.



Patented Aug. 7, |900.

J. E. Lunwm.

AXLE LUBRICATOR.

(Application iled Dec. 4, 1899.,

(No kiodel.)

w, n. M

UNITED Sintes arrinr tries,

JACOB E. LUDWIG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALFORNIA.

AXLE=LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part oc Letters Patent No. 655,347, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed December 4,1899. Serial No. 739,118. (Novmoel.) V

To ,ZE whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JACOB E. LUDWIG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have'invented an Improvement in Axle-Lubricators; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device which is designed for the lubrication of vehicle-axles. Its object is to enable the user to apply a lubricant to axles of vehicles of all'descriptions without removing the wheels in the usual manner, and this when heavily-loaded vehicles are to be lubricated is of considerable advantage.

It consists of a lubricant-reservoir with means `for connecting it with the outer end of the axle to belubricated and means for form` ing a tight `joint therewith and a device whereby the lubricant may be forced into the space between the axle and the axle-box.

My invention comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is ,a sectional view showing the lapplication of my apparatus with detachable connecting ends. Fig. is a .modification showin;r a ring for retaining the apparatus in contact with the part to be lubricated. Fig. 3 shows the apparatus' when usedon heavy wagons. p

r1he lubricant-receptacle A may be of any suitable size and forni and provided with a means for ejeeting the lubricant from it at will. As here shown, this"means consists of a plunger 2, having a scre\\'-threaded stem 3- tnrnable in a correspondiugly-threaded head or cover 4 and having,y a handle 5, by which it maybe turned. The lubricant-containing chamber may have a transverse portion with end plugs t3 removably secured thereto either by screw-threads or other fastening. The centers of the outer ends of these end pl ugs G have serew-threaded sockets which are adapted to (it upon the screw-threaded ends S of the axles 9 and by means of washers 10 fitting in countcrsunk chambers in the ends of these pl ugs f5 when the nut has `been removed from the axle end andthe plug G screwed into its place. The washer ill,abuttingagainst the and to screw the head t5 upon the end of the kspindle until the Washer 10 abuis and makes a tight joint with the axle-box. or coc r 13 being opened and'the opposite end of the chamber A closed the pressure upon the piston 2 will force. the lubricant through the passage 12 and into the annular space around the axle until it is perfectly lubricated. 'lhe parts may then be removed and thel nut restored. to its place upon the end of the axle. ily using dilerent sizes'ot' heads 6, all of which fit into the chamber'vA, but have the holes in their outer ends adapted for different axles and screw-threads, this device can be used upon agi-eat variety of differentsized axles, such as are usually found. An-

other preferable way is to connect the lubricant containing and forcing cylinder A with a sleeve or collar 14 by means ot a pipe 15, having a passage which leads into the collar 14 and through its inner end, Both ends of this collar le are chalnbered to receivewashers 10, the one at the inner end abuttingl against the end of the axle-inox, as previously described, and the outer one being pressed against by the annular flange of the nut 1G, which is removed from the 'end 8 of the axle to allow the collar 1.1 to he inserted, and the nut is afterward screwed on to force the collar to its bearing, as previously stated. lVithin the collar 1i is an elastic annular washer 17, and when the nut is screwed on over the outside of the end S of the axle the annular flange upon theinnerendot the nut will compress the elastic washcrl and cause it to lill the space between the interior of the collar 1i and the threaded portion S ot' the-1 The screw the lubricant from accuinulatingin quantity about the threaded outer end of the axle. The passage 15 extends in this case, as before, from the chamber A to, the point where it connects with the annular space around the axle. In order to fit'the joint in this case, l have shown a ring,- 18, having,r internal screwthreads to fit upon corresponding threads on the inner end of the tubular lubricant-container A. Pivoi'ed to this ring` 1S are arms 19, which extend radially outward, and'they are adapted to engage with the inner fa'ce of the projecting hub-band 20, as Well shown in Fig. 2, and when thus engaged these radial arms 1U stand -bracing\outwardly. lVhen the tube Ais screwed in through the ring 18,'Iv

these braces 19 hold the ring in place, and the inner end of A will thus be caused. to advance through the rin g until tight joints are made by the annular washers 410 and 17.

It v vill be manifest that modifications may be made in the connecting devices, the object being in any case to enable the lubricant to be forcibly injected around the axle and at the saine time to prevent leakage at the connecting-joints.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. An axle-lubricating device comprising a removable, readily-attachable, lubric'ant-con taining cylinder having a piston and means whereby said pistonA is operated, nieans carriedy by the cylinderand forming an end socket adapted to inclose the end of the axle after the securing-nut is removed, said cylinder having a passage connecting its interior with the space surrounding the axle, and

means whereby a tight joint is formed between the socket end of the cylinder and the parts to be lubricated.

2. The combination with a lubricant-con tainer and means for forcing the lubricant therefrom, .means carried by the container and having sockris to be alined with and adapted to receive the threaded end of the axle when the seeuringnnt is removed, said means provided with a passage connecting the interior of the container with the parts to be lubricated', and washersadapted to be compressed by an endwise movement of the container to form. a tight joint substantially at the place Where the lubricant isapplied.

3. An axle-lubrieating device consisting of a lubr cantcontaining cylinder,a plunger and means by which it is advanced, said cylinder havingr means connecting its interior with the space between the axle and its box, a washer,

forming a tight joint between the connecting end and the wheel-hnb, and a compressible sleeve surrounding the screw-threaded endof the axle, said sleeve being thickened and expanded by compression to make a joint around `the screw-threads and prevent accumulations of lubricant.`

4. An axle-lubricating device consisting of a lubricant-containing cylinder, a plunger or piston movable therein, means connecting the inner end of the cylinder with the axle-hub consisting of a screw-threaded ring through which the corresponding threads upon the cylinder may be advanced, radially-disposed bracingarzns projecting outwardly from the ring and engaging the inner periphery of the projecting hub-band, Washers forming joints respectively between the inner end of the cylinder and the hub and around the screwthreaded end of the axle to prevent the leali; age of lubricant at these points, and a passage froin the lubricant pressure-chamber to a space between the axle and its box..

In witness whereofl have hereunto set my hand.

j JACOB E. LUDWIG.

Viitn'esses.: Y

' S. H. NoUnsn,

.Tassin C. Bnomn. 

